Former NHL hockey coach Jacques Demers, who has spoken frankly about his struggle with illiteracy, has been named to the Senate.

Former Montreal Canadiens coach Jacques Demers, seen here in Montreal on Dec. 11, 2006, is among a batch of new senators being appointed Thursday by the Prime Minister.

Published on Thu Aug 27 2009

MONTREAL–He hopes his life story – of the illiterate ex-hockey coach turned Conservative senator – can inspire others.

Jacques Demers, a Stanley Cup winning coach who has spoken frankly about his lifelong struggle to read, is slated for a seat in the red chamber, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today.

The news was greeted with cheers in the hockey world: "I think Jacques is a great politician," quipped Steve Yzerman, a superstar centre whom Demers named captain in 1986.

The backslapping, jovial old coach says he was contacted by Harper's entourage on July 13 and asked if he'd be interested.

Demers says his story could serve as a lesson to others.

"I've worked so hard these last four years to improve my reading and writing. All of a sudden, they name me senator. It's just incredible," Demers, 65, told the website for RDS TV, where he's a hockey analyst.

"I always worked hard in my life. First, to become a coach. Then in broadcasting. I was able to demonstrate that, despite a limited education, you can accomplish good things.

"I hope I can serve as an example to people who face a lot of struggles."

Even before being officially named Thursday, Demers was already playing the part of Conservative caucus member. Seated in a Quebec City crowd to hear the prime minister speak, Demers leapt to his feet before anybody else in the audience and applauded the new boss with vigor.

Demers is the last man to coach a Canadian team to the Stanley Cup, a feat he achieved in his first year behind the Montreal Canadiens' bench in 1993.

He told interviewers that, as recently as 2005, he could only write his name and a few other words.

In November 2005, Demers released a biography, written by journalist Mario LeClerc, in which he revealed that he is functionally illiterate and had to hide it throughout his life.

He would hire assistants to read hockey contracts. He described how he pretended to read notes while he was on TV.

He also described the various means he used to hide his illiteracy from his wife, like pretending to be busy when bills would arrive in the mail and asking her to look after them.

Because of his status, he quickly became an inspiration for many suffering the same fate.

In a 2007 interview with The Canadian Press, Demers said he was buoyed by the fact that other people were coming forward because of his example.

"It's amazing it's led people to come forward, but it's also we're all scared to express ourselves because if we do, we're all scared of the backlash," Demers said.

Since his admission, Demers has learned to read and can plow through hockey stories in the newspaper. But other things take longer and require more focus and quiet around him.

Demers also coached in Quebec City, St. Louis, Detroit and Tampa Bay.

He is among a batch of new senators being appointed Thursday by Harper – a crop that includes some of the prime minister's closest political confidants.

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